Drug-addicted East Stroudsburg doctor has license suspended

Friday

Nov 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2007 at 12:44 AM

Dr. David Russo, who formerly worked as a general surgeon for Pocono Medical Center and has maintained a private practice in East Stroudsburg, had his medical license temporarily suspended by the state last week after he reported being addicted to painkillers.

DAN BERRETT

An East Stroudsburg surgeon hooked on painkillers had his medical license temporarily suspended by the state last week.

Dr. David Russo, who formerly worked as a general surgeon for Pocono Medical Center and has maintained a private practice in East Stroudsburg, reported to the state's Professional Health Monitoring Program in August that he had been abusing drugs, specifically Tylenol No. 3 and Hydrocodone, according to a petition filed by the state.

Tylenol No. 3 is a painkiller containing codeine, which can be habit-forming. Hydrocodone, another painkiller, belongs to a class of drugs that is related to codeine. It is considered physically and psychologically addictive.

The petition, filed by a prosecutor with the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which is an agency within the Pennsylvania Department of State, called Russo "an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety."

It added that Russo likely will face criminal charges from the state attorney general for writing prescriptions for himself. The Attorney General's Office could not immediately elaborate on the matter.

Russo's attorney issued a statement defending his client, noting that the allegations relating to the suspension of his license did not mean he had provided poor care.

"Unfortunately, like many people, Dr. Russo suffers from addiction," Ronald Greenblatt, a Philadelphia-based lawyer, said in a statement. "He has dealt with, and continues to deal with his addiction in a proactive manner."

Russo pledged full cooperation with the medical board during its investigation, Greenblatt said.

The Health Monitoring Program that Russo initially contacted offers help to health care providers who have a chemical dependency, or other mental or physical health problem. They can stave off harsher discipline from the licensing board if they undergo treatment and monitoring for at least three years.

Russo was accepted into the program soon after contacting the program's administrator, the petition alleges. But Russo later declined to enter, saying that he was enrolling in a similar program elsewhere.

According to the petition, there was no evidence that Russo ever enrolled in the other program.

On Nov. 20, the Board of Medicine issued an immediate temporary suspension. Russo had to surrender his wallet card, wall certificate and registration certificate. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 11.

Russo, along with Pocono Medical Center, were defendants in an earlier suit filed by Herbert and Janice Gold on behalf of their son, David.

The case was settled in 2002, with the hospital admitting that it had negligently left a sponge inside David Gold, who was then 15, during an appendix operation, according to press accounts.

Russo performed the surgery on Gold, but argued that the blame fell on the operating room staff.

Russo reportedly stopped working at Pocono Medical Center in February of this year, but the hospital could not confirm this, citing the confidentiality of the medical staffing process.